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Autism Awareness: NGO, CG champion course

In African societies,
particularly in Nigeria, autism seems so not easily recognized even among the
educated parents, let alone among those who are not literate. This makes help
for children with the condition come in quite late due to late detection.
Worried by this situation, the WOW Divas, an NGO (Non-governmental
organization), with support from the Century Group, organized a seminar on
autism, to help families recognize early symptoms should they be present in
their children.

From various speakers who made
people see the world through the eyes of a child with autism, came the hurting
reality how autism as a health condition affects the social, behavioral and emotional
development of an individual. Our society particularly, makes nurturing a child
with autism very difficult since people are not well informed about the
condition. Families resort to isolating such children, abandoning them, or even
killing them in some cases.

Marked by serious difficulties in
communicating and interacting with other people, it is believed to be a non
-communicable neurological syndrome. While there is also no cure for the
condition, it is believed that through early detection, there can be a
recovery. This is yet, a subject of serious debate among doctors and
caregivers, as cases are varying depending on the individual’s level on the
autism spectrum.

When Fade, a single mother,
noticed that her son displayed delayed language development, her grandmother
pacified her saying ‘He’s a boy, boys don’t start talking early”. Not until
after 18 months was it clear that something was wrong and she took him for some
tests. He was confirmed autistic. The child’s school could not help also because
they probably did not understand that the child had special needs.

It is sad to note that even
educated people are ignorant of the condition most times. Dr Dotun Akande gave instances common in
rural areas where people believe that such ‘abnormal’ children are products of
spiritual tradeoffs with dark forces. Some parents also confessed that out of
frustration, they beat their special children very ruthlessly on several past
occasions.

Even many hospitals and health providers have
also failed as they lack the requisite skill to treat and aid those on the
autism spectrum and equip their families. In some cases where the autistic
children are sensitive to sound and so cope physically by covering their ears
and rocking back and forth, the doctors have prescribed eardrops, or worse,
hearing aid which only magnify the sounds and give the child the grinding machine sensations. Their world
is very different no matter how they try; little wonder it’s called ‘oyinbo
disease’ because of the rarity and expense of proper treatment.

It is relieving to know that
people on the autism spectrum are getting more appreciation and understanding
through the work of concerned people such as the Wow Divas and the Century group,
which is committed to enabling people.
Dr Adeola Oduyemi like her counterpart Dr Aluko, pleaded a case for
early intervention/treatment, preparation (educating expectant mothers,
caregivers and health centers for long term management of the condition) and
understanding from society.

Dr Akande who runs a school for people on the autism
spectrum was optimistic about the prospects as she encourages people to look at
the children’s abilities beyond their weaknesses. She believes that despite the children’s
restricted social interest, early detection opens doors for them in skill acquisition and life skills education.

Dr. Dotun Akande

The event celebrated the courage
of those battling autism and made a call for people to extend empathy and
understanding to those affected. The WOW Divas were appreciative of Century
Group support for the event and in the production of the second edition of the
Nigerian autism directory, listing services currently available and sharing
valuable information on what autism is and various therapies that help combat
it.

Support is still being solicited from
government and private sector to aid early diagnosis and intervention to provide
specialists and facilities to help the children recover and maximize their full
potentials.